Tonight my Aunt Fay asked me if I was looking forward to going to Paris this coming summer. I told her that I'm too unsure and nervous to be excited about it. This is what she had to say to that:

A blessing is a free gift, so there's no need to be anxious about it when it comes your way. What are you going to do, turn it down? Sometimes it's hard for us to recognize and accept blessings because we don't feel like we deserve it, but obviously it must have been meant for you if it came to you in the first place. You can't do anything to earn a blessing, but what you can do is be grateful and thankful, and show God that you're grateful and thankful.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Y'all, this has proved to be so much harder than I thought it would be. It would've been easier to remember what happened throughout the year if I had been taking notes along the way. Maybe I'll do that next year? Anyway, for now, here's the rest of my list of happenings for 2013:

51) To my surprise, the good friends I've made since coming to college haven't gotten tired of me yet.52) To my even greater surprise, I still managed to make new friends this year.53) I received my first Rubik's cube.54) I got out of Korean dramas (out of habit) and got back into Japanese ones (out of necessity).55) I started cooking/baking for fun again!

58) I got a 3.5 in a class for the first time in my entire college career, and though I was disappointed and it lowered my GPA, it wasn't the end of the world.

59) I had a phone conversation with the professor who gave me said 3.5. She didn't change my grade (I hadn't tried to convince her to), but we had a really nice conversation about me being more vocal, about how much she respected me, and about how intelligent she thought I was.

60) I took a Korean history class through my school's rival. One of the most tedious yet interesting courses I've ever taken.

61) I FINALLY switched from iPhone to Android (Samsung > everybody else).62) I read the book of Psalms. I read a number of other Old Testament books this year, but Psalms was my favorite. 63) I finally visited the Eli Broad Museum, aka the Spaceship.64) Ma and I took pictures in a photo booth on my birthday.65) I got a first-hand look at the foster care system which increased my sympathy for foster kids and my respect for social workers. It also further convinced me that I'd never want to be a social worker.

66) I took a Zumba class for the first time.67) I was introduced to the wonderful world of "performance studies" and "ethnomusicology".68) I applied, interviewed, and got to the final round of considerations for a research assistantship translating French-language documents from post-WW2.69) I tried out for an acapella group on campus.70) Working at an animal shelter led me to discover that I'm probably allergic to cats.

71) I shopped (thrifted?) at Goodwill on a whim.

72) I accepted the fact that though its arrogant and pompous school will always suck for being arrogant and pompous, Ann Arbor is a far superior city to EL/the state capital.

73)Fruitvale Station, The Butler, 12 Years a Slave. Each of these films left me emotional.74) Ma set the table for Thanksgiving and put up a wreath for Christmas, two things that haven't happened since I was a kid.

75) I got my grown-up driver's license and I liked the way I looked in the picture.

77) Two different administrators at my school encouraged me to apply for National/International Fellowships and Scholarships. Never followed up on it because I decided they weren't for me, but I appreciated the gesture.78) I considered auditioning for 'The Voice'.79) I decided that if I ever did audition for 'The Voice', I would sing this song.

80) I got off one high horse and started drinking pop again, but only occasionally.

81) I stayed on another high horse and refused to drink alcohol, even though it's legal for me now.

82) Some selfish fool hit my car and ran, and I was really shocked and frustrated about it at first. But then I figured, You know what, this is what people do, they break things. And now I can look at my dented front bumper and laugh.

83) I used a planner for the first time since high school.84) I read a children's book for the first time since... well, since I was a child myself.

85) My aunt let me have a family portrait of me and my parents from 1994 as an extra birthday/Christmas present. Sometimes snooping does pay off.86) I worked an art festival convincing strangers to let me take pictures of them in yoga poses.87) A really nice young stranger stopped to tell me his life story, and even though I kind of dropped the ball, that experience was a really great lesson in humanity.88) Ma and I went to the Detroit Jazz Festival for the first time!89) I won the bidding for a picture of a Senegalese boy atop his camel at a student African photo exhibit.90) I climbed one mountain, and attempted to climb a second one. Both of which were in Kyoto.91) I met a very special person named "L".92) I became friends with another very special person named "Ivy".

99) It might not seem wise, but my first time walking two dogs at once was with a pair of pit bulls this fall. Other than sore arms from being pulled through the woods, they didn't give me any trouble.100) I spent a month trying to come up with a "100 Things" list, and it's helped me realize that even though I tend to think of my life as boring and static, I've actually had quite the colorful year.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my year. Best wishes to you all in 2014. Be Happy and God Bless!

I saw that someone had done a list like this on Facebook, and I thought it would be a good thing to do to help me reflect on this year and be more grateful. Y'all should give it a try too if you have the time. If today and tomorrow won't give you enough time, there's always next year. Anyway, here goes, in no particular order:

1) I started practicing yoga.2) I started this blog.3) I went to Arizona for a week.4) I went to Japan for two months.5) My dog turned 10.6) I turned 21.7) My mom decided to stop relaxing her hair.8) I told a few people about this blog, and a few started reading it.9) I took the JLPT.10) I moved into a single room in my dorm, just me myself and I.11) I went to a Christian conference that changed my life.12) I joined an Asian Christian fellowship/bible study group and became acquainted with some pretty cool people.13) I told my best friends about my secret, super embarrassing dream of becoming a singer-songwriter.14) I started writing songs again.15) Madiba passed away, and I cried.16) I started seeing a therapist.17) I participated in a Japanese-English blog project and got paid for it (my first time earning money in college!).18) I became a volunteer at an animal shelter.19) I changed churches.20) I discovered Fela Kuti.21) I read 3 French-language novels, 2 French-language plays, and 4 French-language short stories 22) I stopped calling my dad on the phone.23) I decided that I definitely do not want to go to grad school anytime soon.24) I auditioned for the Black Power Rally.25) I joined YouTube and Instagram again.26) I had a pretty spectacular karaoke night with my best friends for my birthday.27) Ma, me, Madison, Ma's friend, and her daughter had an all-girls Thanksgiving together.28) I started watching TV regularly again/keeping it on for background noise.29) I went to a club for the first time, and met Talib Kweli!30) My president started his second term.31) I read over 20 books.32) I developed a crush on a guy friend of mine, but got over it quickly.33) I came to enjoy eating tomatoes.34) People remembered my birthday.35) I started planning out two of my life goals. (Ms. founder/CEO, here I come!)36) I had a really terrible roommate experience. But it taught me a lot about myself and how to deal with difficult people/people in general.37) I got a marketing internship but then gave it up because it didn't feel right to me, and I knew I couldn't commit to it like I'd thought.38) Japanese/Asian-style karaoke!39) Ma booked us a trip to San Francisco.40) I was able to spend time with my friends from elementary/middle/high school in between returning from Japan and heading back to school.41) I didn't have to pull an all-nighter (never have).42) Milk tea, Japanese curry, green-tea flavored snacks, and takoyaki!43) I finally got up the courage to go to French conversation tables at my school.44) The University of Loo-uh-vuhl won the NCAA Championship and I made sure folks knew about it.45) Summer Skype dates with Ma every Thursday, 7 PM Japan Time.46) I got a video camera and actually used it for a little while.47) I developed a strange fondness for public transportation (thanks to JR trains, subways, the Shinkansen).48) My family did a collective fast.49) I got my first parking ticket.50) I started keeping a daily journal because Sue told me to, and it's turning out to less of a task than I thought it would be.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

I know this song has been out for a while. I don't keep up with Daft Punk, so please excuse my being late on this.

"Doin' It Right" came on while I was at the mall yesterday, and as it played I couldn't help bobbing my head along with it. I kept thinking, Hmm, this is different. I like it. But I couldn't figure out who was singing it. When I looked it up, I found out that it was Daft Punk featuring a musician who calls himself Panda Bear.

At first, I misheard part of the lyrics as:If you lose your way tonight that's how you know your path is bright

When really, it goes:If you lose your way tonight that's how you know the magic's right

But it's the same sort of message, so I wasn't too far off. This song is on Daft Punk's 2013 album Random Access Memories. And as to be expected from them, it's a groovy tune that encourages listeners to just let go and see what happens. What a great message to consider as we close out this year and prepare for the new one.

Grandpa and I have been on the exact same page when it comes to cereal preferences, since I was a young'n. From childhood til about middle school, it was General Mills Honey Nut Clusters. Since middle school to this day, it's Kellogg's Smart Start.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Now that I've FINALLY finished 'Starman', I'll share my favorite from the last round before moving on to the current one. (I know, it's almost winter and I'm still evaluating dramas that I watched during the summer, but as usual schoolhasdevouredmylife so cut me some slack.) Now, as for the dramas I actually finished: 'Juui Dolittle' was great but a little corny at times. 'Gekiryuu' ended with nearly all the mysteries solved, and all the characters having endured challenging changes, learned life lessons, reconciled with their pasts and decided to move on. 'Starman' shifted its emphasis from science fiction to family/friend relationships and got a little sappy and silly toward the end, but overall the drama was still fantastic! So 'Starman' wins.

The following are dramas that I started either toward the end of summer or during this semester. This time around is going to be a little different, because I've already finished all the dramas below. I'll select the "winner" at the end.

Woman - NTV/2013

I honestly can't remember why I started watching this drama, other than because I read that its ratings were high and that Oguri Shun ('Juui Dolittle') was in it. 'Woman' is a heart-wrenching drama centered upon a single mother's struggle to come to terms with her husband's death, make ends meet, and raise two children with little help. She constantly puts herself last and endures one hardship after another, but she makes sure to put on a cheerful face in front of her children so that they don't worry. This drama is also about family, as the woman (named Koharu) reluctantly reconnects with her estranged mother, stepmother, and half-sister. The process of reconciliation incurs a number of setbacks, as Koharu learns some ugly truths about her father, discovers how her husband really died, and learns that she has cancer. It all sounds like a lot to handle, but what I loved about this show is that none of the dramatic moments or events are overdone. The acting is superb and the story is laid out in a realistic manner, putting the spotlight on a sector of the population (single moms) that doesn't tend to get as much attention in Japanese society.

Summer Nude - Fuji TV/2013

Literally, the only reason I started watching this drama was because Karina is in it. She's a very recognizable actress and she's one of my favorites. I really didn't know or care what the drama was about until I watched the first episode. After watching I realized that the show featured Yamashita Tomohisa ("Yamapi") as its male lead, whom I vaguely recognized as a popular singer-songwriter/idol-turned-actor. So basically, given its cast (which includes another favorite actress of mine named Itaya Yuka), 'Summer Nude' was expected to be a summer hit. The show is a light-hearted romantic comedy about love and friendship. Karina plays Natsuki, a chef who quits her career to become a wife, but is left by her groom on her wedding day. Asahi (Yamashita), a photographer, snaps a photo of her at the worst moment of her life. Afterwards, Natsuki retreats to a beachside town to run an old friend's restaurant for the summer and sort her life out. Asahi also lives there, and the two become acquainted through their shared group of friends. What follows amongst this group of young friends is a number of love triangles, confessions of unrequited love, an inability to move on from past relationships or failures, and some determined steps taken by each character toward following their dreams. Moving along at a steady pace, this drama is very easy to watch and features a number of storylines that help you feel connected to each character in some way. The only thing I don't get is the show's title. What in the world is 'Summer Nude' supposed to mean? Maybe because summer is a time for letting go of inhibitions and exploring possibilities, "nude" is supposed to represent being free, open, and vulnerable? That's just a guess, but I really have no clue.

Legal High (リーガルハイ) - Fuji TV/2012

Last but not least is this fun legal drama/comedy. I read the hype about this drama when it first came out. But the lead actress (Aragaki Yui) had also played a lawyer a couple dramas before this one, and since I'd just watched that show, I didn't want to see what I thought would be the same role played over again. Oh, was I wrong! Rather than a domineering career woman, Aragaki plays a rookie lawyer who has high ideals concerning justice and morality. After leaving her first law firm, Mayuzumi Machiko ends up becoming the associate of Komikado-sensei, known as Tokyo's top lawyer who has never lost a case. Though he is an excellent lawyer, he's also a petty, rude, conceited, insufferable know-it-all who's not above tricking people or paying bribes to win his cases. He also only takes on cases from which he knows he'll receive an exorbitant fee to fund his wealthy lifestyle. The two constantly bicker while battling against their mutual enemy, the firm for whom both Mayuzumi and Komikado used to work. This drama is refreshing because not only is a different societal issue addressed in each episode, but this comedy is actually funny! I don't remember watching any other Japanese drama that's made me laugh so much. I will definitely be watching this show's second season, which actually just ended yesterday.

It's tough to pick my favorite this time around because all of these shows were wonderful in their own way. In terms of which drama held my attention most, I'd have to go with 'Legal High'. But because it reminded me of my mom and her struggles as a single mom, 'Woman' comes at a close second.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

This is only my intoduction to Mishima's work, but I can already tell why he's regarded as one of Japan's most important 20th-century authors. In this book he displays a mastery of descriptive writing and a remarkable ability to make commonplace situations violent and absurd. A woman who's lived as a widow for five years with her 13-year-old son falls in love with a sailor and decides to marry him, but her son rejects both the sailor and the relationship. Sounds ordinary, right? Try that when the woman fools herself into believing that her life is wholesome, the sailor can't give up his obsession with the sea, and the kid is a voyeur who has teenage sadists for friends.

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima

13-year-old Noboru idealizes the sailor and the sea. The one, masculine, is the ultimate emblem of manliness. The other, feminine, is both a temptress and the ultimate emblem of freedom.

He hangs out with a group of intelligent yet morbid and cruel boys his age who reject the adult world and are obsessed with objectivity, death, blood sacrifice, and (sick-and-twisted) heroism. They have ideals that are impossible for adults or any other simple humans to satisfy, let alone understand. They are convinced that they are geniuses and that they control the world and reality, which are both certainly and irreparably empty. Also, they have a particularly unyielding disdain for fathers.

As the owner of a luxury clothing store, Noboru's mother Fusako lives by pretense, image, and style. But when she meets a sailor named Ryuji, she develops a sexual relationship with him which quickly becomes romantic and serious. She then finds herself struggling internally. On the one hand, she wants to be a respectable widow, mother, and businesswoman. On the other, she desperately needs to assuage her loneliness by giving herself physically and emotionally to the man she loves.

Noboru and his mom's lover have one point in common, in that they both see the sea as a gateway to the infinite. Ryuji has derived his identity as a man from his life at sea. He draws correlations between manhood/glory, glory/the sea, the sea/freedom, love/death, glory/death, and woman/glory/death. All of these concepts are inseparable in his mind. He settles down with Fusako, but he still feels the sea calling him and is not sure if he made the right decision to give up the sailor's life.

Noboru's disdain for Ryuji grows as he becomes more involved with Fusako, moves in, and assumes the role of man of the house. Not only has he intruded upon Noboru's life and territory, but the once-bright heroic sailor has degenerated into a mere lowly "landsman". His resentment toward his mom and soon-to-be stepdad is intensified by the fact that Noboru has been spying on them having sex from the very beginning. When the couple announce their marriage to Noboru, he and his comrades agree that the sailor must be destroyed. I'll choose not to spoil what happens in the end.

This book is beautifully written. So beautifully that the intense moments of yearning and violence ebb and flow to the reader seamlessly and almost unexpectedly, like waves. It's not terribly difficult to get through, but it can take a while to understand what all is going on and get a grasp of each character's story/mentality. If you want a concise yet profound read that will leave you asking "What in the world did I just read?!" at the end, this is for you.

Favorite quotes:

"...essentially he belonged neither to the land nor to the sea. Possibly a man who hates the land should dwell on shore forever. Alienation and the long voyages at sea will compel him once again to dream of it, torment him with the absurdity of longing for something that he loathes. Ryuji hated the immobility of the land, the eternally unchanging surfaces. But a ship was another kind of prison" (p. 16).

"[Fathers] stand in the way of our progress while they try to burden us with their inferiority complexes, and their unrealized aspirations, and their resentments, and their ideals, and the weaknesses they've never told anyone about, and their sins, and their sweeter-than-honey dreams, and the maxims they've never had the courage to live by─they'd like to unload all that silly crap on us, all of it!" (p. 136-137).

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Today we mostly talked about my habit of denying myself and suppressing my musical passions in favor of safer, more quantifiable options. I'm fearful and I'm too serious, and that part of me often dominates over what can be healthy for me. Here are a few notes that I took from our conversation:

Need to build trust in yourself, to know that what you believe in won't be taken from you so easily.

All you need to know is "I want to sing." Own it. You're not an imposter or faking it. It belongs to you. Put it out there, and the universe will open up for you.

PLANT THE SEED! (And don't make excuses.)

If you could internalize "I'm smart, I'm a good student," why can't you internalize "I love to sing, I'm a good singer"?

One day, you'll get to a place where you're not afraid of your father's anger.

Was on my way to freedom (read: driving home from school after my last final). Mix 92.3 dropped this on me and I wasn't ready! Y'all don't even understand, Brandy and Moesha were my ABSOLUTE FAVORITES when I was little! I forgot how good real R&B feels!

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Yesterday we talked about a lot of things, but one very important topic did emerge from our conversation. This was the topic of masks.

On Thursday I went to ACIV's last meeting for the semester, and the guest speaker was a hilarious and intelligent young black Texan named Sean. Speaking from the theme of "faking it", he discussed 3 main masks that people hide behind on a daily basis.

People use the "Fine Mask" when something is wrong or has changed, but they don't want to acknowledge it. (Consider the daily American conversation: "Hi, how are you?" "I'm fine, how are you?" "I'm fine".) These people are isolated and do not allow themselves to be honest with others. This is me. On the other hand, perhaps people do acknowledge something's wrong, but don't know how to fix it. They might employ the "New Mask", going from one new thing to the next new thing, trying to fill their emptiness (Consider friend-hopping, mate-hopping, trend-hopping, always coming up with a new hobby or career, going to conference after conference, reading every self-help book under the sun. This list isn't exhaustive). These people often feel empty or like a lost cause, because nothing seems to be working. People are also known to use a "Good Mask", by which they try to demonstrate that they are good people or are better than others. (Consider attending church, having morals). These people often judge others based on what they personally choose not to do. I am ashamed to say that this is also me.
At the end of his message, Sean passed out green paper masks to each of us in attendance. He told us to prayerfully reflect on what our individual masks were and then write them down on the green ones in front of us. I was too embarrassed to write mine down, so I took my notes form Sean's message and the green paper mask to my appointment with Sue yesterday, and she had me do the exercise then. I found that my main masks are:

Outward positivity/being positive for others

Composure

Good grades/achievement

Being okay with everything and everybody

I rely on these in order to protect myself and maintain a distance between myself and others. Sue explained to me that neither my masks nor my motivations for employing them are inherently damaging or dangerous. The all have good and bad to them. The issue for me is that I let the dark sides of them control my life in such a way that I tend to hide from people and be dishonest with them and myself.

So yeah, that's where I am right now. Sue had mentioned me developing a personal wellness plan, and to start she wants me to write a journal everyday about how I'm feeling and what I'm thinking about my behavior, particularly in regard to ways that I estrange myself from others. We'll see how this goes.

Last night/this morning I had a wonderful time laughing and singing and yelling at a noraebang (a super-secret-hidden Korean karaoke spot that was surprisingly nice given its shady location).

I'm so blessed to have been able to spend time with some of my favorite people. It really meant a lot to me that all of us were finally able to be together at the same time. Thanks for celebrating my birthday with me! I love y'all!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

This is the other book I was able to read for leisure recently. When I was in the arts track at Compelling, one of the staff members used passages from this book to teach her lesson. I snagged the last copy at the conference bookstore at the end of that weekend.

Imagine: A Vision for Christian in the Arts by Steve Turner

This book is meant to encourage Christian artists not to confine themselves in regard to the art they do or how they receive others' art. In other words, Christians don't just have to create and appreciate what has been designated to be "Christian art". We need to lighten up! God is the creator and master of all things, which means he rules over art as well. He can work through various kinds of arts and artists, and that includes artists who are considered heathens, back-sliders, non-believers, or even atheists. Art doesn't always have to have a point, and when it does, it doesn't always have to become a sermon.

Truth is what matters most, and as Turner writes, truth doesn't just belong to believers. Of course, Christians have a duty to fortify their faith, continuously seek God, and not submit to worldly thinking. But this does not mean that they should shut themselves out from the world and the people in it. Christians also have a duty to harness their human creativity, create, and connect. Ultimately, the divine purpose of art is to communicate or tap into truth in a way that makes people reflect on human experience and think beyond themselves. Art helps people see things differently.

This book is a relatively short read, but offers a wealth of wisdom for Christian artists or supporters of the arts who struggle with the questions What is art supposed to be?, Is God in all art? and How far is too far?
Favorite quotes:

"...we should look at works individually. Rather than asking, Is this artist saved? ask Is this piece of work technically excellent? Is it a valid expression of the artist's view of the world? Are form and content well integrated? Is truth communicated?" (p. 11)

"Some art is simply playful. It may be about nothing more than itself. It attempts neither to tell a story or to make a point.... To some Christians, this is a wasted opportunity, a sermon with no content, a Bible exposition with no substance. But playfulness is an important component of art and perfectly in keeping with a Christian understanding of creativity. Look at the animal kingdom. Can't we sense a spirit of playfulness in the designs?.... 'God,' Picasso once said, 'is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant, and the cat. He has no real style. He just keeps trying other things'" (p. 53-54)

Recently I did something unprecedented since coming to college. I read for leisure, and I didn't even have to wait for a major school break to do it! In one week I read two books, and they had absolutely nothing to do with my classes. It felt like I was reconnecting with my old bookworm self, and it was blissful. First up is an honest work that is sure to get people talking.

How to Be Black by Baratunde Thurston
This book is a New York Times Bestseller, and even though it's only been out for just under two years, I read that it's also in the process of being made into a TV show. Pretty cool, right? It's always inspiring to see creators get recognition for their work. Plus, I have a semi-personal connection to this because my yoga teacher is Thurston's older sister. Small world. Moving on...

Deliberately released during Black History Month (a.k.a. February) of 2012, How to Be Black is part biography, part social commentary on the joys, struggles, and realities of being black, and part group discussion. When addressing certain issues or experiences Thurston includes input from a group of his comedian/writer/artist/activist/conscious people friends, which he refers to as "The Black Panel." As can be deduced from the title, most of the people on this panel are black. But for the benefit of white readers, Thurston also included one of his white Canadian friends just to be "fair". (Because you know, for some white people nothing is truly diverse and conversations about race are never fair if they don't include them. Sorry, Thurston's sarcasm must be rubbing off on me. Moving on.)

Let me say right off: This book does NOT teach people how to be black. Thurston basically chose this title for its shock value to get people interested in it. What this book really does is humorously yet intelligently discuss what it can often be like to be black. This includes dealing with non-black peoples' often low, demeaning, or constraining expectations of us. Thurston's primary goals are to drop knowledge and make readers laugh. To an extent, he sheds some light on "our" story by telling us his story.

This is also not a "we hate white people" piece. (Everything isn't always about y'all, believe it or not. Sorry, sarcasm again. Moving on...) In addition to poking fun at how little most white people understand us, he offers an over-arching lesson or theme: "Being Black" means whatever we as black people want it to be. We can make anything "something that's black" or "something that black people do", because no matter what we're doing we'll always be black while doing it. We must not confine ourselves to the narrow definitions of blackness that we use against each other, and worse, those same narrow definitions that non-black people continue to set for us. We still have a lot of progress to make in this country, and we can't do it alone. The key is knowing and loving ourselves proudly, making ourselves seen and heard, and being willing to help non-black people understand us so that we can all collaborate better.

If you're curious about "the black experience" or just want something funny yet intellectually stimulating to read, I highly recommend this book. It might also bring you some fun times as you catch strange looks from people who see you reading it in public, if you choose to do so. My favorite chapters are "How to Be the Black Friend", "How to Be the Angry Negro", "How to Be The (Next) Black President", and "How's That Post-Racial Thing Working Out for Ya?".

Favorite quotes:

"Since then [the 1960s] there's always the concern that our nation's black population will rise up Nat Turner-style and exact revenge through violent revolution. Much of this rage has been effectively muted and channeled into commercial hip-hop, unrealistic dreams of professional sports careers, and daily doses of poison masquerading as nutrition in the form of poorly stocked grocery stores and fast-food businesses in black neighborhoods. There's just not a lot of rioting energy left, with so many distractions" (p. 188).

"It shows our values as a culture when somebody says, 'I don't want to be called a racist.' Really what they're saying is, 'I want you to like me. I don't want to not be liked. I want to still be okay with you.' They don't mean, 'What I really want is to know and understand experiences of people of color so I don't sound ignorant.' That would be great. And so, it shows that, as I have said, we are operating at this third-grade level of race relations. And it's that third-grader that goes, 'Please like me, do please like me,' versus 'Can I understand?'" (p. 243).

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

I wasn't going to do this for my birthday, because I like to write about occasions when I receive something unexpectedly (as opposed to on a day when people are supposed to give me things). But I know that I haven't written one of these posts in a while, and I wanted to share this humbling experience with you.

As you know, yesterday was my birthday. But it was also the birthday of a residence hall staff member who lives on the same floor as me. Let's call her G. Two days ago I was really stressed and wanted to do anything but work, so I figured, why not make a birthday card for G? I did, but it was very basic and plain. A half sheet of printing paper folded in half, with a flower drawn on the front and a short message on the inside. The message went something like, I know I don't know you, but I saw that today's your birthday. And since we have the same birthday, well... Happy Birthday! Something like that.

I forgot to mention that I've never met G. I learned about her birthday from a bulletin board in the hallway a while back. Yesterday morning, I slipped the card under her door and went about my day.

This afternoon, I returned to my room after classes and found that this had been slipped under my door.

G made me a card in return! How kind is that? Hers is like a supercard, though. She wrote a message in a real card, then stapled it inside of a construction paper card that she had cut out and decorated. It opens like a book, with candy canes taped between the construction paper and stock pages. Her message:

Danielle,

Thanks so much! It meant a lot. Next Semester I will try my hardest to get to know you and the other girls.... I wish you a very Happy Birthday as well. I'm glad you're here also.

Sincerely, G

P.S.- I didn't know what flavor you liked so please enjoy both. :) I hope you like them. I know I do. The orange one is sour patch kids. :)

Wow. This was such a wonderful surprise. Maybe I should make birthday cards for strangers more often. Thanks for your kindness and creativity, G!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

For me, every year there's always something wonderful about walking around on December 3rd and knowing Today is my birthday.

Any complaint or negative thought I could have, I just follow it with, "...but it's my birthday!"and it's like everything's all better. It makes me giddy.

Last night I was feeling really down, for no significant reason. I was tired and stressed. But midnight came, and I saw that "12/3" on my alarm clock, and nothing else mattered. I called Ma at that moment. She didn't even say hello; she just answered the phone singing "HAAAAPPY BIIIIIRTHDAY, HAAAAPY BIIIIRTHDAY, HAAAAPY BIIIRTHDAY TOOO YOUUUUUU!" Once I regained my breath after laughing so hard, I thanked her for raising me and keeping me alive for 21 years.

It's my birthday, y'all. I know I just posted a prayer about being ungrateful and from day-to-day it's hard for me to stay positive about myself and my life. Nonetheless, I know that I am still here for a reason, and being able to celebrate another birthday is a beautiful blessing. God has allowed me to see 21 years, and I am thankful.

I stumbled upon this movie over the weekend, and watching it made me reflect on my own life.

The scene where, after being ignored and bullied, Charlie meets a couple of strangers at a football
game, and those strangers (who later become his friends) invite him to sit with them, no questions asked and no strange looks given. The scene where everyone at a party gives a toast to Charlie and he's speechless because, "I didn't think anybody could see me." The scene where the dark memories from Charlie's past resurface, he relapses, thinks everything was his fault, and doesn't see any other option but to...

Those parts of the movie really touched my heart. Because I know what it is to feel like no one sees you. And I know what it's like to want to tell people your truth, but you don't really know how because you don't want to hurt them or make things worse for you.

Everyone goes through something and each person deals with their struggles differently. This film reminded me that there's nothing wrong with feeling pain. Sometimes, you can even share that pain with others, and no one will judge you for it. Things can get better and you can be okay, even better than okay, regardless.